Sesquiterpenoids and 2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromone Derivatives from the Resinous Heartwood of Aquilaria sinensis

One novel spirolactone,aquilarisinolide(1),three new sesquiterpenoids,(2R,4S,5R,7R)-2-hydroxyeremophila-9,11-dien-8-one(2),(1R,4S,5S,7R,11R)-13-hydroxyepidaphnauran-9-en-8-one(3),and(4R,5S,7R,8S,10S,13R)-8,13-dihydroxyrotunda-1,11-dien-3-one(4),together with 13 known compounds(5-17)were isolated from the resinous heartwood of Aquilaria sinensis(Thymelaeaceae).The structures of the new compounds were elucidated based on the analysis of NMR and MS data and theoretical calculations their ECD spectra.The isolated compounds were evaluated for their protective activities against PC12 cell injury induced by corticosterone(CORT)and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine ion(MPP+),as well as inhibitory activities against BACE1.Compound 4,5,6-dihydroxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone(5),daphnauranol B(7),6-methoxy-2-[2-(3-methyoxyphenyl)ethyl]chromone(10),isoagarotetrol(14),and 1-hydroxy-1,5-diphenylpentan-3-one(16)showed significant protective effects on CORT-induced injury in PC12 cells at a concentration of 20μM(P<0.001).Isoagarotetrol(14)showed a significant protective effect on MPP+-induced injury in PC12 cells at a concentration of 20μM(P<0.001),while compound 4 showed a moderate activity(P<0.01).The BACE1-inhibitory activities of all tested compounds were very weak with less than 30%inhibition at a concentration of 20μM.

Facile Synthesis of 5-Hydroxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone

5-Hydroxy-2-（2-phenylethyl）chromone（l） was synthesized from 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone（7） obtained via four-steps resorcinol-reacting with phenylpropionic acid, the procedures involved are Baker-Venkataraman rear-rangement and cyclization which are easy to conduct, the overall yield is 32%.

Five new 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives and three new sesquiterpenoids from the heartwood of Aquilaria sinensis, an aromatic medicine in China

Five new 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives,(5S,6R,7R,8S,7ʹR)-7ʹ-hydroxyagarotetrol(1),(5S,6R,7R,8S,7ʹS)-7ʹ-hydroxyagarotetrol(2),(6S,7S,8R)-2-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-6,7,8-trihydroxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromone(3),(6S,7S,8R)-2-(2-phenylethyl)-6,7,8-trihydroxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromone(4),(5S,6R,7S,8R)-2-(2-phenylethyl)-5,6,7-trihydroxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-8-[2-(2-phenylethyl)-7-methoxychromonyl-6-oxy]chromone(5),three new sesquiterpenoids,(4S,5S,7S,8S,10S,13R)-7,8,13-trihydroxyrotunda-1,11-dien-3-one(6),(4S,5S,7S,8S,10S,13S)-7,8,13-trihydroxyrotunda-1,11-dien-3-one(7),and(4R,5S,7S,8S,10S,13S)-7,8,13-trihydroxyrotunda-1,11-dien-3-one(8),along with 14 known compounds were isolated from the resinous heartwood of Aquilaria sinensis(Thymelaeaceae).The chemical structures of these new compounds were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR and MS data,single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis,and electronic circular dichroism(ECD)calculations.The neuroprotective activities of these isolates were evaluated using an in vitro model of rat adrenal pheochromocytoma(PC12)cell injury induced by corticosterone.At concentrations from 5 to 40μM,compounds 4 and 6,agarotetrol(9),and 6-hydroxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone(17)showed significant protective activities against corticosterone-induced PC12 cell injury(P<0.001).

2-(2-Phenylethyl)chromones from Endophytic Fungal Strain Botryosphaeria rhodina A13 from Aquilaria sinensis

Objective To study the characteristic 2-（2-phenylethyl）chromone components of endophytic fungal strain of Aquilaria sinensis by solid culture. Methods The compounds were isolated by various chromatographic methods such as silica gel, reverse-phase silica gel, Sephadex-LH20 column chromatography as well as crystallization. Results Seven 2-（2-phenylethyl）chromone analogues were isolated from the solid culture of Botryosphaeria rhodina A13. Their structures were established by spectral data as well as physicochemical properties, and identified as 6-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2-（2-phenylethyl）chromone （1）, 6,7-dimethoxy-2-（2-phenylethyl） chromone （2）, （5S,6R,7S,8R）-2-（2-phenylethyl）-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrchromone （3）, 6- hydroxy-2-（2-phenylethyl）chromone （4）, 4＇-hydroxy-2-（2-phenylethyl）chromone （5）, 6-methoxy-2-phenethyl-4H-chromen-4-one （6）, and 6-methoxy-2-（4＇-methoxy-phenethyl）-4H-chromen-4-one （7）. Conclusion All of the compounds are isolated for the first time from the genus Botryosphaeria. This research opens up a new vista to produce the characteristic components of agarwood by endophytic fungi.

A New Chromone Derivative from Stellera chamaejasme L

A new chromone derivative, 3-[1- (2, 4, 6-trihydroxyphenyl) 3-di-(4-hydroxyphenyl) 1-propanone-2-yl] 5,7-dihydroxy-8-di(4-hydroxyphenyl)methyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one, named as isomohsenone was isolated from the roots of Stellera chamaejasme L. together with known chamaechromone. Its structure was determined by the analysis of MS and NMR data, especially 2D NMR spectra.